NAIROBI, July 21 (Reuters) - Somalia's new minister for women was snatched by Islamist rebels 30 km outside the capital, Mogadishu, almost immediately after her appointment was announced, a relative said on Thursday.

Asha Osman Aqil was grabbed in an area controlled by al Shabaab militants late on Wednesday after the country's fragile government announced its new cabinet.

"Asha is now being interrogated in Balad by al Shabaab," a relative who did not want to be identified for fear he would be attacked by the rebels, told Reuters.

"She told them she is aware of her nomination and had not contacted the government at all and had not accepted the vacancy."